By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA
in Kigali –

• CHIPOLOPOLO players upon arrival from Rwanda at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
Picture by GWEN CHIPASULA

COACH George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina says he is disappointed that the team did not reach the final of the Rwanda 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Lwandamina, who watched his side painfully lose 4-5 to Guinea on penalties in the semi-finals on Sunday night, said he, however, was proud of his team.
He said he was happy that the team fought for every ball in the tournament before going out on penalties.
Lwandamina hailed his squad for not conceding a goal in open play.
“Of course one will be disappointed for not going further than the quarter-finals but the guys fought really hard and to the bitter end.
We are also proud we have not conceded a goal through-out the tournament which is really commendable.
We created some chances but failed to score. We did our best but we did not put away our chances. We played with two strikers and our intention was to finish the game in regulation time,” Lwandamina said.
Lwandamina said the team will now have to pick itself up and look forward to a busy year which will see Zambia compete in both the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup and Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Asked whether he will go back to Zesco United or remain with the Chipolopolo, Lwandamina said he was an employee of Zesco but is available for national duties whenever called upon.
“This is a national call and if I’m called upon to do a noble cause, nothing can stop me. I will continue if the people who gave me this opportunity want me there.
The employers will be able to make a decision on my behalf,” he said.
Meanwhile, SANDRA MWILA reports that Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) vice-president Lewis Shambulo said the team had a fighting spirit and they tried their best.
Shambulo said in an interview in Lusaka that the Chipolopolo ejection was unfortunate but the team learnt a number of lessons that will help them in future assignments.
“It is unfortunate that we were ejected from the CHAN tournament, but the boys tried their best, I am sure you saw that they had a fighting spirit. Penalties are usually a game of luck. At least they learnt few lessons and got necessary exposure that will help them in future assignments,” Shambulo said.
Football administrator Herschel Chitembeya said the team did their best and made the nation proud but that it was unfortunate to exit the tournament in such a manner.
Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association (CSFA) chairperson Yotam Mwanza said Lwandamina has a huge task of working on the striking force.
Mwanza said the team lacks a potent striking force as evidenced by the two goals that were scored.
“It is disappointing to be booted out in the quarter-finals after topping the Group D. The bottom line is that we lack a potent striking force. Scoring two goals in four matches is not a good record.
“Most importantly, lessons were drawn from the tournament and Lwandamina has spotted players that can give him results when fused in the main national team,” he said.